Astra

GM vice chairman Robert Lutz poses with his lips up against the side of a 2008 Saturn Astra XR. The brand says he was among the first Saturn fans to submit a photo for the "Kiss My Astra" national photo contest. As an employee of General Motors, however, Mr. Lutz in not eligible to win.

While the website has been online for a few days, Saturn officially launched the "Kiss My Astra" national photo contest earlier today, offering Saturn fans an opportunity to show just how much they would love to win a new Saturn Astra. Contestants can kiss their own Astra, a friend's Astra, or drop by any Saturn retailer and kiss their Astra, and then upload a photo of the kiss at www.ImSaturn.com. The contestant with the funniest, most creative photo – as selected by the online Saturn community – will win a 2008 Saturn XR 5-door.

Saturn asked former Project Runway designer Kit Pistol to "design an outfit inspired by the Saturn Astra 3-door." See what she found most intriguing about the Astra, and how it's shape and style impacted her design. Significantly, she found ideas both inside and out of the Astra. The video comes courtesy of Bravo TV.

While most automotive manufacturers have shifted production to focus on smaller vehicles, nearly 70 percent of consumers say they want manufacturers to invest more in existing and emerging powertrain technologies, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Alternative Powertrain Study released today.

Saturn is giving away a 2008 Astra XR in a new contest that starts today and runs until midnight on September 6th. All you have to do is submit a picture of yourself kissing a Astra for a chance to win one!

Auto reviewer Duncan Haimerl from the Hartford Courant recently drove a 2008 Saturn Astra and decided to consciously drive with a "featherweight touch" to see how it would impact the vehicle's fuel economy. The result? Over a 184 mile loop he only used 5.002 gallons of gas, which calculates to be a combined city/highway fuel economy of 36.79 miles per gallon! So Astra owners, what's the highest MPG you've calculated with your cars?

Jeff Taylor, auto writer for Search Chicago, thinks the Saturn Astra offers "a rare blend economy, affordability, styling and above average build quality," he wrote in his review. "Saturn has created a new car worthy of consideration in the tough compact segment."

Earlier this week, the Hartford Courant newspaper published an article about a conversation they recently had with Matt Pillow, sales manager at Saturn of Hartford, about he 2008 Saturn Astra. He shared some interesting sales insight with the paper, shedding some light as to how the two different Astra body types and trim levels are selling in Connecticut's Greater Hartford area.

Automotive.com recently profiled the 2008 Saturn Astra and wrote it was a "breath of fresh air in the American market." They liked how the Astra offers "sporty, European driving characteristics, exemplary fit and finish, reasonable pricing, and style for miles."

Last month, MPG-o-Matic spent a week road testing the 2008 Saturn Astra. Significantly, during their test the Astra exceeded the EPA estimated fuel economy figures. In addition, they applauded how the Astra "shines on twisty back roads, where it is a sheer joy to drive," they wrote. "The optional sport suspension package and low profile Michelin tires provide an abundance of grip as the Astra moves effortlessly through the twisties. The handling is clearly a notch above much of the competition."

Random Article from the SaturnFans.com Archives

Even though production of Saturn's first minivan is more than a year away, some rumors about the vehicle - and its corporate cousins - have began to surface. Many of us diehard Saturn fans won't like the news, but as the saying goes, "business is business" and General Motors is not in the car making business to lose money.